Malcolm Page shocked at impact of winning Olympic gold in London

IT wasn't until he jumped on a train from Weymouth to London that Malcolm Page realised the full impact his Olympic gold medal had at home.

The 40-year-old sailor was given the honour of carrying Australia's flag at the Closing Ceremony after his gold medal in the 470 class completed an historic Olympic back-to-back following his victory in Beijing.

"I started to go through my emails on the way up from Weymouth and couldn't believe the response," said Page. "There are hundreds there. Family, friends and even hero messages from unknown people who have followed our sport mean so much to me and today's honour may top it all. I think I have 140 unread SMS's as well."

"It's incredible. I thought winning the gold medal a couple of days ago was the culmination of an amazing four years and an incredible sailing life. When I received the phone call from Nick asking whether I would accept the flag bearer's role I was overwhelmed. I was with my wife and mother at the time and they shed a tear."

Australia's sailors won three gold medals and a silver with Page claiming they had performed up to high expectations.

"We have been showing that form right across the Olympiad. Prior to the Olympics we said three gold medals plus perhaps an extra one was very possible. That was easy to say. You do need the stars to come together. The three gold medallists were all three-time world champions within the last four-year period and we are all world number ones.

"For us to hold our form was great. We all knew the potential of our match-racing girls who sailed so well yesterday and fought to the end. Even with a bit of bad luck they didn't give up and pushed the Spaniards to the death.

"Australia has always had a lot of sailing talent but we fell behind in the last 20 years from the rest of the world in the systems and the approach. It is a very Euro-centric sport. The Australia sailing team was reborn after Athens in 2004 and we are just starting to get that maturity through the system."